Call 811 Before You Dig

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​​Located underground is a complex network of pipes and wires for critical services such as electricity, natural gas, communications, water, sewage and other utilities. Unsafe digging can damage equipment. If you plan to dig anywhere – from large construction jobs to home projects – smart digging means
calling 811 before each job. This is the first step in helping you to dig safely and avoid damaging critical utilities.

New Jersey One Call: 811

Anywhere within the state of New Jersey call 811. Have utility lines marked before you dig - at home, in your neighborhood, at work.

Be Safe

What you don't see underground can hurt you. Before you dig, you are required by law to call
New Jersey One Call at 811 a minimum of three days (not counting weekends or holidays) before you plan to dig. They will help you to locate electric and other underground utility lines. Whether you are planting a tree, building a fence or laying a foundation, contacting a line with a shovel or other digging device can damage power lines–and cause injury or worse.

Never assume you know what is below. Nationwide, one out of every three damages to underground utilities is the result of digging without calling 811.

Steps to Safer Digging

Make the call. One free, simple phone call to 811 will notify all appropriate utility companies of your intent to dig.Provide advance notice. Contact 811 at least three full business days prior to digging to ensure utility lines are properly marked.Provide your project info. When you call, a representative from 811 will ask for the location and description of your digging project.Allow utilities to mark underground lines. 811 will notify Atlantic City Electric and other affected utilities that will then send professional locators to the dig site to mark the exact location of any underground lines.Understand the location marks. Each type of buried utility has its own color code. Marks may be painted or located with flags.

​Color

​​​Utility Type

​Red

Electric, Cables, Conduit, Lighting Cables

​Yellow

Natural Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum

​

​Orange

​Communication, Phone, Cable, Fiber Optic

​Blue

​Water

​Green

​Sewer

​Purple

​Reclaimed Water

​White

​Proposed Excavation

​Pink

​Temporary Survey Marking

​

Dig Carefully. Once lines have been properly marked, carefully hand dig with a shovel around the marked areas. Also consider designing your project to avoid digging close to the underground facilities. Never use mechanized equipment near marks or exposed pipes or wires. Remember that utility marks will not indicate depth, and settling ground, erosion and other factors cause the location of pipes and wires to change over time.

Know the Law

Striking an underground utility line while digging can cause harm to you or those around you, disrupt service to entire neighborhoods, and potentially result in fines and repair costs defined by
New Jersey law.

Never assume you know what is below. Nationwide, one out of every three damages to underground utilities is the result of digging without calling 811.

We're Here to Help

At Atlantic City Electric, we’re dedicated to providing education and assistance to customers and excavators regarding safe excavation around underground electric lines. Safe digging is everyone's responsibility. We ​provide both office and field personnel to assist you with all issues related to excavation activities throughout our service territory. Our close partnership with New Jersey One Call gives you access to the resources you need to ensure your job site is properly marked before you start to dig.